PUNE: Maharashtra, finally got off the blocks with a convincing 43-run win over Jharkhand in a Round V - Elite Group C, Men's U25 State A Trophy encounter at the Alur Cricket Stadium III, Bangalore.

Having stayed indoors for their first match against Tripura owing to rain playing spoilsport, then losing to state rivals Mumbai, Maharashtra did well to log their first full points.   

Maharashtra, choosing to bat first, rode on opener Pawan Shah and Dheeraj Phatangare century second-wicket partnership to post 304/8 and then have Shubham Kothari 4/46 and Harshal Kate 3/15 run through Jharkhand.

Opener Pawan (82) leading from the front with the second-highest score of the match joined hands with Dheeraj (70) to associate themselves in a 128-run stand which laid the foundation of a big score. The partnership was built after Saurabh Nawale (16) fell early and the total reading 41/1.

Pawan Shah 82

Maharashtra had Siddhesh Veer (41, 35b) and Ramkrishna Ghosh (40, 20b) come up with vital knocks to push the score past the 300-mark.

In reply, Jharkhand was bundled out for 261 as they suffered a batting collapse. Barring the 143-run stand between opener V Vishal (84, 96b) and captain Kumar Suraj (78, 82b) for the third wicket, the rest of the batters failed to push the advantage. The best scores of the innings came from Ayush (20) and Yuvraj Kumar (18).

The collapse was triggered by Solapur lad and right-arm off-break bowler Shubham and Harshal.

Maharashtra now has 6 points from 3 matches.